Stenosis - Failure to open completely, impeding forward flow

Incompetence/Regurgitation - Failure to close, allowing reverse flow

Valvular Heart Disease - Mechanisms (2)

Most common disease - stenoses of the aortic and mitral valvesAccount for 2/3rds of all valve diseaseValvular stenosis mainly due to primary valve cusp abnormality, a chronic processValvular regurgitation may result from disease of cusps but also damage to supporting structures (tendinous cords, papillary muscles)Vegetations can result from Infective Endocarditis & Rheumatic Fever

Site: Ascending & arch of AortaClinical Effects: Aortic Incompetence

Mycotic (infective)

Hypertension (1)

(High Blood Pressure)

But what is BP?BP is recorded as two numbers—the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats)Measured in millimeters of mercury - mmHgeg 120/80 mm Hg120/80mmHg or lower is classed as normal BP